Draft Tek’s End Of Season Chiefs Draft Needs
By merlin
Well, Addicts, it’s time for the end of the season draft needs list. As many of you know, I produce the Chiefs needs list for DraftTek.com. Periodically, I go through those needs here on Arrowhead Addict. I love getting feedback and hearing well argued, dissenting opinions. Since we are opening up the draft season, I want to go through the needs and expand upon them. Draft Tek provides a couple of usefeul tools to refine the draft simulation. Basically, the needs are set using priority codes. These are numbered one through nine with one being the highest need and nine basically not being a need at all.
What I prefer to do is to separate needs into four groups. The highest group of needs get a 3 code, often I use the designation P3 for that. The second group gets a P4 code, the third group gets a P6 code and the non-needs get a P9. Why use 3, 4 and 6? There are a couple of reasons. The higher the code, the more the simulation will reach to fill that need. So, by rarely using P1 and P2, I minimize reaches, going more best player than need. Secondly, the simulation provides a bump, so to speak. In round five, all the P6 codes are converted to P4. I love to take advantage of that. My feeling is that when you hit round five, you are looking for the best value, positional needs become less important. So, I stack a lot of positions at a P6 level, looking for any player that can help us when we pick in round five and beyond.
Just to make my life more complicated, as well as making the simulation more realistic, I also have the option of using Multiples and Pairs. Multiples are pretty self explanatory. Normally, when the simulation selects a player, it changes the priority code from PX to P9, meaning that need has been filled. However, what if you want to draft multiple players at that position? Draft Tek provides a multiple designation, MX. So, if you have, say wide receiver coded a P3 and want another one, you can set a M6, for example. So, when the first wide receiver is taken, instead of the simulation coding that need a P9, it codes it a P6. Pairs employ a different concept. Let’s say, for example, that you want a safety, but don’t really care if you draft a free safety or a strong safety. You would code each safety need a PX. Ordinarily, when the first safety is drafted, that priority code is changed, but not the other safety position’s code. However, if you set the SS/FS pair to YES, one selection fills both needs. These two tools enable the simulation to provide a more realistic outcome. That’s good, because I am using both multiples and pairs for the Chiefs needs. Here, pairs will be separated by a ‘/’. Should you see a position listed twice, that’s intentional. It does not mean I am senile.
Primary Needs (P3) LT/RT, QB, SILB
LT/RT:
Brandon Albert is a good LT, but could be a great guard and Barry Richardson is a sieve at RT. Bringing in a stud tackle that could start at RT as a rookie and possibly challenge Albert for the LT job in year two is a very attractive option.
QB:
This year has proven that it would be very hard for Matt Cassel to lead us to a Super Bowl. Kyle Orton was a couple game rental. Unless Orton signs with the Chiefs, quarterback has to still be a high level need.
SILB:
This need was recently elevated from a P4 to a P3. As much as I like Jovan Belcher, the stats don’t lie. He is 28th out of 36 inside linebackers, and a dismal 33rd out of 36 in pass coverage. All those tight end receptions are not his fault, but he is the weakest link in the front seven.
Secondary Needs (P4) RBF, TE, RT, NT, CB
RBF: RBF stands for Running Back Feature. A Feature RB is your stud ball carrier. Here, I am looking for a replacement for Thomas Jones and I don’t think Jackie Battle is the long term solution. This is a prime area for a veteran free agent acquisition.
TE:
Leonard Pope is not a good blocker at TE and Moeaki needs a Jason Dunn to play with his Tony Gonzalez.
RT:
Yes, this is a multiple. I am so down on Barry Richardson that drafting two tackles to push him off the roster is not a bad idea.
NT:
Kelly Gregg was a nice one year pickup. However, is name is off the locker and he probably will not return. Unless the Chiefs sign a veteran nose tackle, they need to draft one.
CB:
Javier Arenas is a good inside cover guy, but not suited to playing outside. Jalil Brown hasn’t developed, so CB remains a good need. If Brandon Carr is not resigned, this need would go up.
Tertiary Needs: WRP/WRS, OG/C, DE, WILB, FS
This is pretty much your kitchen sink. All these positions could use draftees to challenge for backup roles.
OK Addicts. That’s my take. Agree or disagree as you wish, but flesh out your thoughts. Anyone want to argue to downgrade the QB need? Do you like the idea of taking two tackles? Should the FS need be upgraded? Fire away!